GERMANY-ELECTION

Bijschrift:State premier of Lower Saxony David McAllister is prepared for his TV interview in Hanover, northern Germany on January 20, 2013 on polling day of the local elections in the central German state of Lower Saxony. The vote is largely seen as a test run for Chancellor Angela Merkel, her rivals and would-be heirs, eight months before nationwide polls. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party was ahead after the first state poll in a general election year, exit polls indicated, but it was unclear whether its coalition would cling to power. AFP PHOTO / UWE ZUCCHI GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read UWE ZUCCHI/AFP/Getty Images)

Bijschrift:

State premier of Lower Saxony David McAllister is prepared for his TV interview in Hanover, northern Germany on January 20, 2013 on polling day of the local elections in the central German state of Lower Saxony. The vote is largely seen as a test run for Chancellor Angela Merkel, her rivals and would-be heirs, eight months before nationwide polls. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party was ahead after the first state poll in a general election year, exit polls indicated, but it was unclear whether its coalition would cling to power. AFP PHOTO / UWE ZUCCHI GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read UWE ZUCCHI/AFP/Getty Images)

State premier of Lower Saxony David McAllister is prepared for his TV... Nieuwsfoto'sDag,Democratie,Duitsland,Gemeenschap,Hannover,Horizontaal,Nedersaksen,Politiek,Stembureau,VerkiezingPhotographer UWE ZUCCHICollection: DPA 2013 AFPState premier of Lower Saxony David McAllister is prepared for his TV interview in Hanover, northern Germany on January 20, 2013 on polling day of the local elections in the central German state of Lower Saxony. The vote is largely seen as a test run for Chancellor Angela Merkel, her rivals and would-be heirs, eight months before nationwide polls. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party was ahead after the first state poll in a general election year, exit polls indicated, but it was unclear whether its coalition would cling to power. AFP PHOTO / UWE ZUCCHI GERMANY OUT (Photo credit should read UWE ZUCCHI/AFP/Getty Images)